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Topic: Prayers: No Teaching License (Read 605 times)

Hey all. Well, in the state of NM, there is a complex process involved in renewing a level one license in which one has to turn in a portfolio/dossier in order to keep one's license after so many years. There was a problem with the submission of my dossier, and as of mid June, I will no longer have a teaching license in NM.

Not entirely sure what my next step is careerwise. Having been in education for the past 9 years, I don't have any experience in any other career field that might help me get a new job.

Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything so that he may do it no more.A hasty quarrel kindles fire,and urgent strife sheds blood.If you blow on a spark, it will glow;if you spit on it, it will be put out; and both come out of your mouth

Hey all. Well, in the state of NM, there is a complex process involved in renewing a level one license in which one has to turn in a portfolio/dossier in order to keep one's license after so many years. There was a problem with the submission of my dossier, and as of mid June, I will no longer have a teaching license in NM.

Not entirely sure what my next step is careerwise. Having been in education for the past 9 years, I don't have any experience in any other career field that might help me get a new job.

Praying you find something to keep you going until it's all cleared up.

Logged

Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

I am a former teacher and I know people who have gone through the same thing.

Get on the internet and look up the qualifications for getting certified in all 50 states. Some states, like yours, are inflexible and rigid. Others (like Montana) are quite flexible and not nearly as bureaucratic.

States vary WIDELY and there is no logic to it. For example, I have 10 years experience and a Master's degree in South Carolina. When I was originally certified way back in 1989, I got an endorsement to teach English and Social Studies in grades 6-12. However, a couple of years ago, South Carolina created a separate "Middle School Certification" for grades 5-8 and said that the Secondary School Certification would now only cover grades 9-12. If you wanted to teach Middle School, (even if you had 10 years experience and had been teaching Middle School for 5 years already) you had to take the Praxis Exam and score at least 165 on it to maintain your Middle School Certification. (A score of 165, by the way, is the SECOND HIGHEST score required by any state in the nation. Only Ohio requires a higher score.) Anyway, I took the Praxis test twice and scored 163 the first time and 161 the second time. So I lost my teaching job at the Middle School. (I was teaching 8th grade English.)

Now if I had had a job teaching 9th grade English or above, I would have been able to keep it, because I am still certified at grades 9-12. If I were teaching in neighboring North Carolina or Georgia, I would have been able to continue teaching 8th grade because they don't require a score that high. Heck, if I wanted to teach Middle School in New York or California I would qualify, but not here in my home state. Isn't bureaucracy wonderful? And people wonder why so many teachers leave the teaching profession. LOL

Praying you find something to keep you going until it's all cleared up.

I have been in contact with the Professional Education Department, but they don't want to let me appeal. I can't get my license renewed for three years. That is their policy. NM is the only state that has this dossier process.

Papist: Are you a member of the NEA? I was and they provided me with a lawyer (free of charge) when I needed one. The cost was covered by my yearly membership dues. If that doesn't work, see what the certification requirements are in the states that border New Mexico. See if any of the border states have a reciprocity agreement with New Mexico.

"I will pour out my prayer unto the Lord, and to Him will I proclaim my grief; for with evils my soul is filled, and my life unto hades hath drawn nigh, and like Jonah I will pray: From corruption raise me up, O God." -Ode VI, Irmos of the Supplicatory Canon to the Theotokos

I am a former teacher and I know people who have gone through the same thing.

Get on the internet and look up the qualifications for getting certified in all 50 states. Some states, like yours, are inflexible and rigid. Others (like Montana) are quite flexible and not nearly as bureaucratic.

States vary WIDELY and there is no logic to it. For example, I have 10 years experience and a Master's degree in South Carolina. When I was originally certified way back in 1989, I got an endorsement to teach English and Social Studies in grades 6-12. However, a couple of years ago, South Carolina created a separate "Middle School Certification" for grades 5-8 and said that the Secondary School Certification would now only cover grades 9-12. If you wanted to teach Middle School, (even if you had 10 years experience and had been teaching Middle School for 5 years already) you had to take the Praxis Exam and score at least 165 on it to maintain your Middle School Certification. (A score of 165, by the way, is the SECOND HIGHEST score required by any state in the nation. Only Ohio requires a higher score.) Anyway, I took the Praxis test twice and scored 163 the first time and 161 the second time. So I lost my teaching job at the Middle School. (I was teaching 8th grade English.)

Now if I had had a job teaching 9th grade English or above, I would have been able to keep it, because I am still certified at grades 9-12. If I were teaching in neighboring North Carolina or Georgia, I would have been able to continue teaching 8th grade because they don't require a score that high. Heck, if I wanted to teach Middle School in New York or California I would qualify, but not here in my home state. Isn't bureaucracy wonderful? And people wonder why so many teachers leave the teaching profession. LOL

However, don't despair. Things will work out. You are in my prayers.

Thank you very much for the good advice. I'm going to look into applying for my license in Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and California.